Also don't forget that there is still the sad fact that for an equivalent job women oftentimes get paid less than men. The less expensive Mixte kit is just VO's very nice way of fighting this economic injustice.

I thought the lower price for mixtes simply reflected weaker market demand. I wonder builders can afford to make them since there can't be much profit in it. Maybe the Rando costs more because part of the cost of producing the mixte is buried in there.

However, the Rando build kit seems a great buy, and I am sorely tempted to sell off my other bikes to get one.

Questions/comments: the list of braze-ons doesn't mention what looks to be a pump pip on the back side of the head tube. Also: bike component descriptions almost always include weight, but this is not true for frames. Finally: does anyone have any comment about the fork rake on the Rando? In the photo it looks a bit awkward, more like a kink or bend, rather than a lovely curve we all prize so highly. I've seen worse, though, and this minor detraction is by no means a deal-killer.